Gareth Ainsworth says his side must be more clinical and ruthless when opportunities come their way following the 1-1 draw with Barnet at MEMS Priestfield Stadium on Saturday.
The visitors controlled large periods of the first half and took the lead through Callum Stead. Ainsworth was frustrated with the way in which Gillingham lost their battles during the opening period but was pleased with the response following the interval.
Bradley Dack's stunning free-kick during first-half stoppage time ensured the Gills took a point away from the game, and the Gillingham manager spoke about the great relationship he is forming with Dack.
Andy Smith was absent for the game, which Ainsworth addressed, and he also touched on how his team need to start games.
Assessment of the game...
It was a poor first-half for us. I have never seen us lose so many battles, and that frustrated me. It really did. We just looked a bit off it. In the second-half, we were the better team by far and looked like we could have got a goal. We can't start games like that. We gave ourselves too much to do. It was a wonder free-kick from Dacky [Bradley Dack] at the end there to get us back in at half-time.
The team talk was still the same, as I was disappointed with some of the lost battles, as it was unrecognisable to me. We tried to play a bit more today, but in doing that, we maybe lost that battle inside. I need to get them both in there.
In the second-half, I was pleased with the boys and was pleased with the changes. Travis [Akomeah], making his league debut, I thought that he looked assured. It was good from the other substitutes that came on, but it was good from the boys that started the second-half as well. We looked like the aggressors.
On Bradley Dack...
We are lucky that he is in such great form with his goal scoring, because we have relied on that.
We work on Dacky finding space and getting into pockets, because his quality on the ball is second to none... With Bradley, we have forged a great relationship as manager and captain at the moment for me. He is one of the leaders in the dressing room and contributes really well on the pitch.
Andy Smith's absence...
Andy has been a real stalwart for me at the back, but he picked up a knock in the last game. We will have to assess Andy and see, and hopefully, we will get him back for next Saturday.
Being ruthless in attack...
When we have the opportunities, we have got to be more clinical and ruthless, and see the opposition off, especially at home. Too often, we get into these great positions, a three-on-two and things like that, and it is too easy to defend. We need to put the knife in there and go for the jugular, because those moments don't happen a lot. You get two or three a game, and you must make them into one or two goals at least.
We cannot keep relying on moments of magic and set pieces. We have to carve teams apart, and when we get our moments, we have got to take them. Barnet had a moment, and they took it. That's what we have to do more, so I know what the sessions are going to be this week. We are going to try to make it count when we are in the good areas.
